Pixel Watch price leak suggests Google isn’t trying to match the Apple Watch
One watch for everyone
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
If you were hoping thePixel Watchwould be the Wear OS equivalent of theApple Watch 8then a new price leak suggests you might be disappointed, as it looks set to undercutApple’s flagship wearable, and not even come close to the price of theApple Watch Ultra.
According toRoland Quandt– a leaker with a decent track record – the Wi-Fi version of thePixel Watchwill cost £339 in the UK. While not cheap that’s rather less than the $399 / £419 / AU$629 starting price of theApple Watch8 or the $449.99 / £429 / AU$799.99 starting price of theSamsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
It is however more than the $279.99 / £269 / AU$499Samsung Galaxy Watch 5or the $249 / £259 / AU$399Apple Watch SE 2. So this suggestsGoogleisn’t positioning the Pixel Watch as a budget device, but not as a top-tier flagship either.
Earlier price leaks paint a similar picture, with the Wi-Fi version of the wearable said tocost $349.99 in the US, which would likewise see it sit between the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Apple Watch 8, or theSamsungGalaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
This could potentially prove a problematic price point – too expensive for those who don’t want to splash out, but perhaps lacking the high-end specs and features that could sway big spenders from alternative devices. But we should find out soon, as Google is fully unveiling the Pixel Watch on October 6, alongside thePixel 7.
Analysis: Google might not be serious about smartwatches yet
This middling price also suggests Google might not be serious about smartwatches, or at least not yet. Where Samsung and Apple offer both affordable and expensive options – not to mention multiple sizes – it seems Google might just offer one smartwatch in one size.
Reports suggest there will be the choice of a Wi-Fi or cellular model, but – other than the colors – that might be the only decision to be made. There have been some whispers of a pricier modelpossibly called the Pixel Watch Fit, but there’s not much evidence that this wearable exists.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
No, so far most leaks point to just one model in one size. And these pricing leaks further support that theory, because if Google was going to offer multiple models it would probably opt for higher and lower prices than have been rumored, to better differentiate them.
One model in one size suggests Google is only prepared to dip its toes into the smartwatch waters for now, rather than developing multiple wearables.
Whether this play will pay off or whether this one-size-fits-all approach will more prove to be a one-size-fits-few though - and whether this will do enough to be one of thebest smartwatches- remains to be seen.
James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.
Get the Fitbit Versa 4 for a record-low price at Amazon ahead of Black Friday
The Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 could launch sooner than expected – with new features and a thinner design
7 myths about email security everyone should stop believing
